The US boasts some of the best colleges in the world. But they aren't limited to elite private schools — every state has public institutions that offer residents top-notch education with an affordable price tag.

Niche, a company that researches and compiles information on schools, ranked the best public schools in the US. The site lets users sort by state, so we took a look at which public school dominated in each one.

To determine its rankings, Niche considers factors like academic strength, campus quality, caliber of professors, and quality of student reviews for more than 1,500 schools across the country.

ARIZONA: Arizona State University

"The variety of the courses offered is vast and there are a lot of unique classes that enable you to really customize your general classes to something that you'll enjoy," one student commented. "A majority of the professors are well educated in their fields and easy to talk to."

ARKANSAS: University of Arkansas

"I'm not going to worry about finding a job after college," one student said. "The name of University of Arkansas is respected all over the place. I have great resources at my disposal to find jobs and prepare for interviews. Internships are stressed here and prepared for."

CALIFORNIA: University of California at Los Angeles

"Employers are impressed by UCLA," one junior commented. "It's as easy as that. No matter where you go to work, there will be someone who went to or is related to someone who went to UCLA, and they always love to hire Bruins."

COLORADO: Colorado School of Mines

"This school is prestigious for a reason," one freshman noted. "The classes are challenging but doable if you manage your time well. The professors are passionate about their subjects and want the students to learn."

The school helps students get started with their careers as well.

"There is an enormous amount of recruiting that happens on campus," one sophomore said. "The school is great at giving the students chances to network and interview with companies."

DELAWARE: University of Delaware

"University of Delaware has so many amazing things to offer," one student said. "It's very challenging academically, but has everything needed to stay involved and have an amazing time. The residence halls allow for meeting new people and making quality friendships. The campus is beautiful and allows for entertainment everywhere on-site."

FLORIDA: University of Florida

"I love UF because it is full of interesting people from all backgrounds, and they're mostly all friendly," one student reported. "The classes are challenging and they make you work hard to earn the grade. There are numerous clubs and organizations you can join. Overall, it's a place where you can discover yourself."

GEORGIA: Georgia Institute of Technology

"Graduating from Georgia Tech is not only quite the achievement, but opens a doorway to many career opportunities," one freshman reported. "They have a few career fairs each year and many companies come because of how prestigious the school is. Many students are able to get internships and co-ops, even if they're freshmen. All in all, it's amazing the opportunities given and how often they're given."

HAWAII: University of Hawaii at Manoa

"The instructors are more than happy to assist students in their time of need," a junior said. "I find many of the professors within my major are very much in love with what they do, making it easy to learn from them."

IDAHO: University of Idaho

"The teaching staff are the most student-friendly professors on the planet," one senior commented. "They often will see students outside of office hours for nearly any reason. The curriculum stays current and up-to-date with the times and is often affordable. The workload is steady, but manageable for those who manage their time well."

ILLINOIS: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

"I've learned more so far in college than I thought I'd learn my whole life," one freshman revealed. "Professors are amazing, workload is tough, but has only benefited me, and studying is so easy with so many resources."

The professors truly care about their students here.

"The professors are fantastic," a sophomore said. "Every professor I've had has very clearly enjoyed their job, and they really get into the lectures."

INDIANA: Purdue University

"Purdue is very academically rigorous and good preparation for whatever career path students want to go into," a sophomore said. "Professors are very diverse, many having been published multiple times in their field, and many making significant advancements."

IOWA: Iowa State University

"Iowa State University is the best school out there for me because of the community setting, the helpful advisors, and the broad spectrum of learning opportunities," a recent graduate shared. "The advisors here at Iowa State are so helpful in finding ways to make sure you succeed and have all of the resources to do so."

KANSAS: University of Kansas

"If given the opportunity to choose all over again, I would absolutely still pick KU," one student reported. "The classes, in my experience, have been appropriately challenging while still being fun and enjoyable, and the teachers I've had are so supportive to their students and passionate about what they teach."

LOUISIANA: Louisiana State University

"The workload is very strenuous and grading by professors is very uncompromising. The great part, however, is that you'll be prepared for any pursuit of higher education after undergrad," one senior explained.

MAINE: University of Maine

"The academics at my school couldn't be any better," a freshman commented. "The professors help you when help is needed. If they feel like the class has struggled with a topic, they will go over it in a different way."

MARYLAND: University of Maryland at College Park

"University of Maryland is a great school," one senior said. "The academics challenge students to engage in extra studying to know the material. More so, UMD prepares you through academics for activities and projects you will have in everyday life."

MASSACHUSETTS: University of Massachusetts at Amherst

"There are an infinite amount of classes you could take," one sophomore explained. "They have basically any major imaginable and if not, there is a program to create your own major. Class size varies and can benefit every student's learning style."

MICHIGAN: University of Michigan at Ann Arbor

REUTERS/Mike Stone

Location: Ann Arbor

Overall: A+

Academics: A+

Acceptance rate: 37%

"There's so much energy all the time," one freshman observed. "Everyone is so proud to be a Michigan wolverine, it's great to be a part of it! There is a lot of challenging school work but in the end, it's worth all the work."

MISSISSIPPI: Mississippi State University

"The school spirit here is unreal," one student said. "Everyone supports the teams, especially football. There is a great level of diversity for the area. The teachers and professors here all genuinely care for each student's well-being and academic success."

MONTANA: Montana State University

"The workload can be stressful and extensive, but most professors are very knowledgeable and care," a freshman said.

Professors are willing to go the extra mile to help students. "The student to professor ratio is great," one sophomore noted. "The professors all have good office hours and [are] always willing and ready to help you."

NEBRASKA: University of Nebraska at Lincoln

"UNL is an amazing school," one sophomore said. "There are so many resources to help you succeed and the quality of education is outstanding. Our programs are excellent thanks to the determined faculty and staff here, and there are so many people around you to encourage your progress."

NEVADA: University of Nevada at Reno

"I believe that the University of Nevada at Reno is a great school to go to if you want that 'traditional college' experience for a decent amount of money," one junior noted. "They have brick buildings all over campus, and the whole campus exemplifies a rich history."

Many students love the community they're a part of on campus. "The campus itself feels like home," one freshman said. "We are all very proud to be a part of the Wolf Pack and I wouldn't change it for anything."

NEW JERSEY: Rutgers University

"The actual classes and professors are amazing," one freshman noted. "The workload is what you would expect from the given level of difficulty of the course and most professors are extremely friendly and accommodating."

NEW MEXICO: New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology

"Graduating from this school means that you busted your a-- for four years, no doubt. But people recognize this, and with all the networking available to you for the four years that you attended, it should be easy to find an 'in' into your career," one student explained.

NEW YORK: Fashion Institute of Technology

"FIT is great because the curriculum for your major begins right when you get in," one sophomore said. "Unlike many other colleges, the first two years is not spent solely doing gen-eds. I like that the class sizes are small, and I have made many great relationships with great professors."

NORTH CAROLINA: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"The academic structure is complex and vast," one junior said. "There are tons of departments and many majors within each department, which makes it an intellectually diverse campus. There are also many ways to make special study options for yourself — being a research assistant, applying for grant money, doing summer classes or projects, independent study with a professor, etc."

OHIO: Ohio State University

"The academics at this school are fantastic," one freshman said. "The professors are often friendly and encourage students to come to office hours. The registration process is simple as well. I was able to create my dream schedule without any problems. In terms of study options and areas, there are thousands of locations."

OKLAHOMA: Oklahoma State University

"My experience at Oklahoma State has been amazing. The atmosphere is the best," a junior said. "You can really feel the spirit of the school. The grounds are beautiful and the buildings are kept clean. The teachers are helpful and the classes are interesting. The best part is football season and basketball season. The school spirit is beyond the average."

PENNSYLVANIA: Penn State

"I go to a great school," one sophomore said. "My professors and classes are helping to prepare me for my field and are doing a great job. The experiences I have had here are unforgettable and everything I could have asked for."

RHODE ISLAND: University of Rhode Island

"I am definitely happy that I made the decision to attend URI," one freshman said. "The courses are all very interesting and easy to manage. The campus layout is beautiful and you really feel like you're at a top-notch university."

SOUTH CAROLINA: Clemson University

"Clemson is a fantastic school. It's the perfect mix of a larger school without being too large," one junior reported. "The students are friendly and welcoming to all types of people. The professors really care about helping you learn and aren't just research focused."

SOUTH DAKOTA: South Dakota School of Mines & Technology

"I love the small and connected feel of South Dakota School of Mines," one junior said. "The people I go to school with are very dedicated to their schoolwork. Each day I am happy to say that I go to a school where I have a close relationship with all of the faculty who each show an earnest commitment for my learning. Within the school, even the professional societies have a close, constructive relationship with the students to help advancement into their fields."

TENNESSEE: University of Tennessee

"The variety of topics and classes are fantastic," one student reported. "There are many options as far as electives and humanities go, and everything is delivered in a way to appeal to a growing and curious mind."

TEXAS: University of Texas at Austin

"The professors really care about the students and they are very passionate," one junior commented. "There are a variety of classes that you can take even if they don't relate to your major. Students have to work hard to keep their grades up, but there are a lot of resources on campus to help with studying and time management."

UTAH: University of Utah

"What makes this university so unique is that there are so many resources here," a freshman noted. "They are always renovating this campus to our benefit. There are all kinds of ambassadors here to help you with getting a job, getting involved, setting up your classes, and mostly creating a balanced life."

VIRGINIA: University of Virginia

"UVA is the perfect balance. It is a large enough school so you can constantly meet people, but small enough that you're not overwhelmed," one student said. "The campus is totally walkable and in a beautiful location. It can be academically hard, but college should be somewhat a challenge. This is balanced out by the social aspect of the school. The students study hard but go out and party too."

WASHINGTON: University of Washington

"It's hard work, and it's going to take dedication, time, and motivation," one junior said. "It's all worth it, though! Professors are reliable, knowledgeable, and know how to inspire you to do your best. It's amazing feeling so [much] a part of something."

WEST VIRGINIA: West Virginia University

Facebook/West Virginia University

Location: Morgantown

Overall: B+

Academics: B-

Acceptance rate: 85%

"The academics offered are wonderful — just because it is considered a party school does not mean it doesn't also give you a workload," one freshman noted. "As long as you adequately study, do your work, and manage your time, you should be okay."

WISCONSIN: University of Wisconsin

"I'm really enjoying the cool atmosphere and the incredibly nice people. There is a very diverse population here and I meet many new, interesting people every day," one freshman said. "The classes are challenging but enjoyable and I've learned an incredible amount!"

WYOMING: University of Wyoming

"University of Wyoming has been such a warm welcoming school," one sophomore said. "I enjoy that they really care about the welfare of the students, they surround students with lots of support from counseling, how to be successful in school, helping your needs, emotional needs."